Interesting article from The Hill:
The relationship between President Obama and Russian President
Vladimir Putin appears to have reached the breaking point over the
crisis in Ukraine.
Through
a series of long telephone conversations, Obama and Putin have talked
extensively behind the scenes about the fate of Crimea, with the United
States repeatedly warning Russia against a grab for territory.But Putin appears to be forging ahead, defying Obama’s calls for a diplomatic solution that would allow both sides to save face.
Now
the U.S. and its allies are directly hitting some of Putin’s closest
advisers with sanctions in a move intended to isolate and punish the
Kremlin.
Foreign policy analysts warn the latest steps could be the beginning of a deep freeze in U.S.-Russian relations.
“This
has the potential to end very badly,” said Richard Fontaine, president
of the Center for a New American Security. “I don’t think this means
war, but this could spell the beginning of a long period of extreme
diplomatic alienation between the West and Russia.”
The
tit-for-tat intensified on Monday, as Obama announced sanctions against
Russians and Ukrainians deemed responsible for Russia’s incursion into
Crimea, including close allies of Putin and former Ukrainian President
Viktor Yanukovych.
